Protesters raise pro-Modi slogans outside Advani's home

BJP veteran L K Advani today faced protests by a group vouching support for Narendra Modi as the former chose to skip party's national executive meet in Goa, where the Gujarat Chief Minister is expected to be given a larger role.
While the BJP was quick to condemn the incidents saying the protestors have nothing to do with the party, Congress latched on to it reminding people of the treatment meted out to senior leaders within the Opposition party.
A handful of protesters holding a banner 'Narendra Modi's Army' shouted pro-Modi slogans outside Advani's 30-Prithviraj Road residence this afternoon.
Holding placards that read 'Narendra Modi Zindabad' and 'Bring Modi as Prime Minister', the protesters demanded that Advani should step aside and allow Modi to assume a greater role.

"We have come here because we want Advani to step aside and let Modi come forward. Advani should have announced Modi's candidature for Prime Ministership in Goa but he did not do that," one of the protesters said.
Another protester said, "Our main demand is that Modi should be declared as the Prime Ministerial candidate. That's why we are protesting here."

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain, however, quickly disassociated the party from the protest. "These people have nothing to do with BJP. Advaniji is the seniormost leader of the party," he said.
Later, addressing a press conference another BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the party condemned the protests outside Advani's residence. "BJP does not do any demonstrations in front of its leader's house," she said.

85-year-old Advani has stayed away from the conclave in Goa apparently to express his opposition to making Modi the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign committee chief.
Revelling in the apparent rift over Modi within the Opposition party, Congress expressed its full sympathy over what was being done to the "architect" of the BJP by his own "party workers".